Communications devices comprising NFC communicators

• US 20120196529A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Innovision Research & Technology PLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keen, Ian, Huomo, Heikki, Borrett, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3229 Use of the SIM of a M-device as secure element
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A communications device has a NFC communicator (15) having a coupler (17) to couple with a coupler of a near field RF communicator in near field range to enable communication of data between the communicators by modulation of a magnetic field, a demodulator (42) to extract modulation from a modulated signal coupled to the coupler and a modulator (40) to modulate an RF signal in accordance with data to be communicated by the NFC communicator. The device also has at least one secure element (30; 31) separate from the near field RF communicator (15) to provide secure data storage for transaction data representing or relating to a transaction. A controller controls operation of the NFC communicator, reads transaction data from the at least one secure element and causes the modulator to modulate an RF signal in accordance with transaction data read from the at least one secure element so as to communicate the read transaction data to a near field RF communicator in near field range as proof of the transaction to enable an action related to the transaction to be carried out.

Claims

1. A communications device, the device comprising:

an NFC communicator having a coupler operable to couple with a coupler of a near field RF communicator in near field range to enable communication of data between the communicators by modulation of a magnetic field;

a demodulator configured to extract modulation from a modulated signal coupled to the coupler;

a modulator configured to modulate an RF signal in accordance with data to be communicated by the NFC communicator;

at least one secure element, having a plurality of memory areas with differing levels of access, configured to provide secure data storage for transaction data relating to a transaction, wherein the differing levels of access relate to at least one of a readability and an amendability of the memory areas by a user; and

a controller configured to control operation of the NFC communicator, to read transaction data from the at least one secure element, and to cause the modulator to modulate an RF signal in accordance with transaction data read from the at least one secure element so as to communicate the read transaction data to a near field RF communicator in near field range as proof of the transaction to enable an action related to the transaction to be carried out.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one secure element is at least one of:

separate from the NFC communicator;

insertable into the device;

removable from the device;

connectable to the device;

couplable to the device.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a controller of the NFC communicator.

4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a communicator operable to communicate other than by near field RF communication.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one secure element is further configured to write data to a selected one or more memory areas in dependence upon the route of supply or identity of supplier.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the memory areas are readable by the user but not amendable by the user, and wherein one or more of the memory areas are not readable by the user.

7. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a mobile telecommunications communicator operable to communicate via a mobile telecommunications network.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the NFC communicator is separate from the at least one secure element and the device further comprises a mobile telecommunications communicator operable to communicate via a mobile telecommunications network, wherein the controller comprises a mobile telecommunications controller operable to control the mobile telecommunications communicator and to cooperate with the NFC communicator, the mobile telecommunications controller being operable to read transaction data from the at least one secure element and to cause the NFC communicator to modulate an RF signal in accordance with transaction data read from the at least one secure element.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one secure element is at least one of:

configured to have an operating system and at least one applications platform;

at least partly pre-programmed;

at least partly programmable by the controller.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to cause transaction data to be stored by the at least one secure element.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to obtain by communication with another device at least one of:

operating software;

at least one applications platform for a particular type of transaction data; and

transaction data for storage by the at least one secure element.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to communicate with another device by at least one of a mobile telecommunications network and near field communication to obtain at least one of:

operating software;

at least one applications platform for a particular type of transaction data; and

transaction data for the at least one secure element.

13. A device according to claim 9, configured to download operating software or an applications platform as an applet.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device has a selector operable to at least one of:

select a secure element from amongst a plurality of secure elements; and

select an applications platform from amongst a plurality of applications platforms.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the selector is a user-controllable selector.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device has a selector operable to select, under user control, a secure element from amongst a plurality of secure elements and the controller is operable to send a wait signal to the other near field RF communicator while the controller is awaiting data requested by the other near field RF communicator from a selected secure element.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to send a wait signal to the other near field RF communicator while the controller is awaiting data from the secure element data requested by the other near field RF communicator.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one secure element comprises at least one of a SIM card, a USIM card, a WIM card, a SWIM card, an SD card and a SMC card.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein the transaction data comprises at least one of:

payment data;

product data;

purchase data;

ticket data;

permit data;

pass data;

booking data;

reservation data.

21. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device consists of only the NFC communicator and the at least one secure element.

22. A device according to claim 1, having a display, wherein the controller is operable to enable a user to view of at least some of the data stored on the at least one secure element.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein the controller is operable to enable deletion of data from the secure element by the user.

25. An electronic proof carried by a device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the proof is provided by the transaction data which represents or is associated with at least one of:

a transport ticket or pass which may be a single, return, multiple journey or season ticket for example;

an entertainment ticket such as a cinema, theatre or sports ticket;

a receipt such as for purchase of goods or services;

an access pass or key;

a permit or coupon;

a reservation or booking such as a hotel reservation, a hire car reservation, or a restaurant reservation;

a product such as goods or services;

a financial product such as a credit card, pin number, debit card, money, loyalty card.

26. A method of supplying transaction data or product data to the at least one secure element of a device according to claim 1, comprising supplying at least one of secure software and secure data to the device for storage on the secure element.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the supplying comprises supplying:

at least one of a Java applet, a midlet;

other software program;

transaction data.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the supplying comprises supplying by at least one of mobile telecommunication and near field RF communication.

30. A device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of memory areas comprise both non-volatile and volatile memory.

20. A communications device comprising:

an NFC communicator having a coupler operable to couple with a coupler of a near field RF communicator in near field range to enable communication of data between the communicators by modulation of a magnetic field;

a demodulator configured to extract modulation from a modulated signal coupled to the coupler;

a modulator configured to modulate an RF signal in accordance with data to be communicated by the NFC communicator;

at least one secure element, separate from the NFC communicator and having a plurality of memory areas with differing levels of access, configured to provide secure data storage, wherein the differing levels of access relate to at least one of a readability and an amendability of the memory areas by a user; and

a controller configured to control operation of the NFC communicator, to read data from the at least one secure element and to cause the modulator to modulate an RF signal in accordance with data read from the at least one secure element so as to communicate the read data to a near field RF communicator in near field range.

24. A communications device, the device comprising:

NFC communication means having coupling means for coupling with coupling means of a near field RF communication means in near field range to enable communication of data between the communication means by modulation of a magnetic field;

demodulation means for extracting modulation from a modulated signal coupled to the coupler;

modulation means for modulating an RF signal in accordance with data to be communicated by the near field communicator;

secure element means for providing secure data storage for transaction data representing or relating to a transaction, wherein the secure element means includes differing levels of access that relate to at least one of a readability and an amendability of the secure element means by a user; and

control means for controlling operation of the NFC communication means, for reading transaction data from the secure element means and for causing the modulation means to modulate an RF signal in accordance with transaction data read from the secure element means so as to communicate the read transaction data to a near field RF communication means in near field range as proof of the transaction to enable an action related to the transaction to be carried out.

29. (canceled)